title: A multicenter retrospective study of 151 renal biopsies in horses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Renal biopsies are uncommonly performed in horses and little is known about their diagnostic utility and associated complication rate.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the techniques, the complication rate, risk factors, and histopathology results; as well as evaluate the safety and diagnostic utility of renal biopsy in the horse.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty-six horses from which 151 renal biopsies were obtained. Animals ranged in age from 48 hours to 30 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multicenter retrospective study, with participation of 14 institutions (1983-2009).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Renal biopsy in horses was associated with a similar rate of complications (11.3%) to that occurring in humans and companion animals. Complications were generally associated with hemorrhage or signs of colic, and required treatment in 3% of cases. Fatality rate was low (1/151; 0.7%). Biopsy specimens yielded sufficient tissue for a histopathologic diagnosis in most cases (94%) but diagnoses had only fair (72%) agreement with postmortem findings. Risk factors for complications included biopsy specimens of the left kidney (P = .030), a diagnosis of neoplasia (P = .004), and low urine specific gravity (P = .030). No association with complications was found for age, sex, breed, institution, presenting complaint, other initial clinicopathologic data, biopsy instrument, needle size, or use of ultrasonographic guidance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Renal biopsy in horses has low morbidity and results in a morphological histopathologic diagnosis in 94% of cases. However, this procedure might result in serious complications and should only be used when information obtained would be likely to impact decisions regarding patient management and prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Large Animal Internal Medicine Center, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Tyner
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Nolen-Walston
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Palmero
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Couëtil
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Javsicas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stack
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schott
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hardefeldt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gruntman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sommardahl
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Menzies-Gow
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: dePedro
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Fennell
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Axon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lindborg
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aceto
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boston
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Engiles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors